Sunday July 31, 2022
Theme : “ The joy of living is in the presence of Christ ”
Text : 1 Kings 17:17-24
17. After these things the son of the woman who was the mistress of the house became ill, and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18. This woman then said to Elijah, What is it between me and you, man of God? Have you come to me to recall my iniquity, and to kill my son? 19. He answered him, Give me your son. And he took him from the woman's bosom, carried him up into the upper room where he dwelt, and laid him on his bed. 20. Then he called on the LORD, and said, LORD my God, will you afflict, so that his son is put to death, even this widow in whose house I have been received as a guest? 21. And he stretched himself upon the child three times, called upon the LORD, and said, LORD my God, I pray thee, let the soul of this child return within him. 22. The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child returned within him, and he was made alive. 23. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, See, your son is alive. 24. And the woman said unto Elijah, I now know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
Let's remember:
If the joy of living is in the presence of Christ, then the sadness of living is for those who live far from the presence of God. Since God blessed this woman by giving her a son, it is not possible that this will be followed by sorrow because Proverbs 10:22 teaches us this: "It is the blessing of the Lord that enriches, And he does not make it followed by no sorrow". In case sorrow invites itself anyway, the Lord dissolves it by a divine miracle. All who hope in the Lord will never be put to shame. Psalms 147:11 says, "The Lord loves those who fear him, those who hope in his mercy." So Jesus said to Martha about her brother Lazarus, who had been dead for four days; John 11:25 “Jesus said to him, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even if he were dead”. It is therefore with the one who has the power over life and death that we find the joy of living. Let us take care of the servants of God; it is also an additional blessing. Let us remain in the presence of Christ, and the joy of living will remain our share. Excellent Sunday of joy. Amen Alain Louz.-
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